September 26, 2011

A Relaunch for SCOTUSblog

SCOTUSblog, the widely read blog that focuses on Supreme Court news and analysis, relaunched itself today, promising new features and "community" discussions about key cases before the high court.

Since it began in 2002, SCOTUSblog has had law firm sponsorship -- either Goldstein's family firm, or for a time, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where Goldstein led the appellate practice until he left to resume a smaller Supreme Court practice in January of this year. As of today, the blog has a new outside sponsor -- Bloomberg Law -- which founder Tom Goldstein says will enable it to "dramatically expand" its offerings.

Amy Howe, Goldstein's wife and law partner, will be the editor of the new incarnation of the blog, while Goldstein remains as publisher. He will also continue his Supreme Court practice with the renamed firm Goldstein & Russell. Goldstein says he will retain "all editorial control" and readers will still be able to access the blog for free. Goldstein said the blog could be a conduit to paid products offered by Bloomberg. An announcement by Bloomberg indicated the partnership will also generate webinars, symposia, and analysis by Goldstein for Bloomberg customers.

With the new resources brought in by Bloomberg, Goldstein said more of the case summaries and analyses on the blog will be written by experts in the field, rather than by law students.

Steve Wermiel, a former Supreme Court correspondent for the Wall Street Journal who now teaches at American University's Washington College of Law, will be a new contributor, specifically targeting law students. Goldstein also said he plans to generate moderated community debates over Supreme Court topics on the blog.